Hello!
My name is Officer Justin Witt and I am the current school resource officer for the Central DeWitt Community School District. I have served as a full time patrol officer in the DeWitt Community since 2005. I am also certified as Bike Patrol Officer, Drug recognition expert, and an Emergency Driving Instructor. I am a member of the Gateway Area HEAT (hazardous entry and approach team) since 2006.

Officer Justin Witt is a graduate of North Scott High School, Scott Community College, and the University of Northern Iowa. While at Scott Community, Officer Witt received his Associates degree in Criminal Justice followed by a Bachelors degree at UNI for Criminology, with a minor in Sociology.

Officer Witt was born and raised in Iowa. He grew up in rural Donahue, Iowa. Officer Witt enjoys spending time with his daughter and is an avid off-road enthusiast/participant.

Officer Witt began his employment with the DeWitt Police Department September of 2005. Officer Witt has been the department’s narcotics Officer since 2006.

He is pleased to be the current School Resource Officer for the Central DeWitt Community School District and St. Joes.

It is the goal of the School Resource Officer to collaborate with the Central DeWitt Community School District in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

The school resource officer has many duties including the development of strategies and plans for dangerous situations on school property, presenting instructions on law enforcement, safety, drug, and alcohol issues to students, conducting criminal investigations, and being a resource for students, teachers and parents. The School Resource Officer is also committed to providing appropriate programs and services to prevent children from becoming at risk and to intervene effectively with children already involved in the juvenile justice system.

The schools included in these efforts are Central DeWitt High School, Central DeWitt Middle School, Central DeWitt Intermediate School, Central DeWitt Alternative School and Ekstrand Elementary School. The School Resource Officer and the Central DeWitt Community School District continuously work to promote a coordinated effort amongst agencies and staff in order to achieve maximum public safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the School Resource Officer Program?

A: The School Resource Officer program serves Central DeWitt High School, Central DeWitt Middle School, Central DeWitt Intermediate School, Ekstrand Elementary School, and St. Joseph's Catholic School. The School Resource Officer is an employee of the DeWitt Police Department and is not an employee of the Central DeWitt Community School District. It is the intention of the DeWitt Police Department and the Central DeWitt Community School District to maintain collaborative efforts to provide a safe and healthy school environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Both parties desire a maximum degree of long-range cooperation and administrative planning in order to provide for the safety and security of the community and its children. Both are committed to providing appropriate programs and services to prevent children from becoming at risk and to intervene effectively with children already involved in the juvenile justice system. Both are committed to improving service delivery to children in the community through sharing information, eliminating duplication of services and coordinating efforts. Lastly, both promote positive attitudes regarding the police role in society.

Q: What are the duties / responsibilities of the school resource officer?

A: To assist the superintendent, principals, faculty, and staff in developing plans and strategies to prevent and / or minimize dangerous situations that may occur on school grounds.
To present topics to students on various law enforcement / safety issues with the permission and guidance from the school principal.
To contact the principal of the school about any juvenile delinquency, incidents, charges, and arrests within a timely manner.
To take law enforcement action when necessary.
To conduct investigations of crimes that occur at any school and use other resources if needed for follow up investigations.
To follow the guidelines of case law, school board policy, and the DeWitt Police Department general orders in regards to investigations, interviews and searches relating to juveniles.
To be a visible, positive law enforcement figure on campuses.
To be a resource for students which will enable them to be associated with a law enforcement figure in the students' environment.
To be a resource for teachers, parents and students for conferences dealing with problems or questions.
To wear their department authorized duty weapon and uniform in accordance with police department policy.
To notify the school principal or other school designee upon removing a student from campus.